Wintry mix set to move in Tuesday

Forecasters say an arctic front arrives early Tuesday, bringing very cold temperatures and a mixture of freezing rain, ice pellets and snow to North Texas.

Many North Texas counties will remain below freezing until Friday.

Fans of the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in for Sunday's Super Bowl probably won't blink an eye.

But North Texans and ESPN TV and radio crews at Sundance Square who were basking in 70-degree temperatures Saturday now must scramble to prepare for the front.

"At daybreak Tuesday, it will probably be 36 degrees, and Fort Worth should start seeing freezing temperatures pretty soon after that," said Joe Harris, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth.

Forecasters say there should be some rain Tuesday morning, followed by freezing rain, ice pellets and snow throughout the day. Forecasters also expect strong north winds, gusting to 40 mph, Tuesday. The wind chill readings will be between 1 below zero to 4 degrees.

The front will hit on a very busy day for Super Bowl fans and media. Tuesday is Super Bowl media day at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

An official with the Texas Department of Transportation said Sunday that extra trucks and crews will be available to clear highways during Super Bowl week.

"We'll have additional crews from across the state available," said Val Lopez, a Transportation Department spokesman. "We have a plan in place to prepare for the ice."

Super Bowl Sunday, however, looks balmy by comparison.

Forecasters say football fans should have sunny skies and highs in the mid-50s.